Airman on Guam dies after found unresponsive on base beach

An airman temporarily assigned to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam was found unresponsive on a beach Friday and was pronounced dead later the same day at a military hospital on the island, the Air Force said.

The Air Force won’t release the airman’s identity until 24 hours after next of kin are notified, the 36th Wing on Andersen said in a statement.

The statement did not say whether the airman was male or female.

The cause of death is under investigation.

The airman was found unresponsive at San Luis Beach, one of three beaches located on Naval Base Guam. The airman was later pronounced dead at Naval Hospital Guam.

“It’s the worst kind of tragedy when we lose a member of our Air Force family,” said Brig. Gen. Douglas Cox, 36th Wing commander. “Our condolences are with the immediate family and everyone affected by this loss.”

Friday marked the conclusion of exercise Valiant Shield, a biennial field training exercise on Guam and around the Mariana Island Range Complex. The exercise involves 18,000 personnel and more than 180 aircraft from the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.